Blue skies, popcorn clouds, and gentle winds set the stage for unbelievableTarpon action on the saltwater flats of Belize. At the El Pescador Lodge,north of San Pedro on Ambergris Cay, Ali and Logan Gentry are gracious hostsand manage a turnkey Fly fishing operation, which accommodates expert aswell as the novice fisherman. The accommodations are excellent, the servicescomplete, and the cuisine is unique. The lodge dining room provides a fullservice bar, which is the gathering place for raucous afternoon fish talesand rowdy card games. With El Pescador as base station, Nestor Gomez, a kingamong tarpon guides, engineered a game plan, which proved fantastic. Earlymorning starts were the cornerstone of success. Rising at 3:30 A.M. totravel under cover of darkness allowed access to fishable flats at firstlight. Within minutes of the first drift, the sounds of rolling tarponelectrified attention and forced sightings of telltale silver backs andrippling fins. Fly-casting any target was simple in the absence of defeatingwind. The roll call was incredible. " Tarpon rolling 200 feet 9 o'clock, 60feet at 2 o'clock, two of them at 50 feet 1 o'clock". Choosing a targetproved to be the most difficult decision. Once chosen, inducing a take wasnot a problem. The fish were aggressive and slammed flies, at times withaerial assaults. In all we fished six days, covering five flats in threedifferent areas from mangrove margins to deepwater. Hundreds of fish weresighted. Of presentations made there were thirty takes, twenty-seven fishjumped, and nine landed. The largest weighed 165 lbs. [68 inches long, 43inches girth], and was subdued after a two-hour battle, which included 27runs, 7 jumps, and 5 lurches under the boat, the last of which destroyed my# 12 Loomis GLX rod. Two other fish went over 100 lbs., the remaining rangedfrom 15 to 85 lbs. Many of the fish jumped were on for multiple jumps andwere lost for a variety of faults: snapped leaders, poor hook sets, andunexplained. The experience was the realization of the quintessential tarponfantasy. I am planning to reproduce it as soon as I rest my weary back andtrunk. Nestor, Ali, Logan, El Pescador , thank you for the experience.

Written by Dr. Anthony Cuomo on August 28, 2000A.K.A. Tarpon Tony

PS..Dr. Anthony Cuomo had an unforgettable week of tarpon fishing at El PescadorLodge in Belize last week. Dr. Tarpon Tony has been a guest and friend ofEl Pescador for over 11 years, always fishing with his favorite guide,Nesto. Tony landed the lodge record for the 1999 season last May with a 157pounder. He now holds the 2000 record as well with a 165 pounder caught onAugust 26th. He is only 4 pounds shy of the lodge record for our 30 yearhistory.

Thanks Marty for the above fishing report, I printed it for my Hubby, and now he ready to bring me back to Ambergris, so he can fish for Tarpon too. I use every tool available to motivate him. Thanks again